29 December 2008

SJD Messages > Schedule

Back from a whirlwind Christmas vaca on Wednesday, December 31st and will return messages & emails then.

Cheers!

20 December 2008

Favz > Holiday Greetings

My friends, The Chiesa Family, just picked up their holiday cards yesterday.  Sarah couldn't decide which photos to use of her beautiful baby girl - so she had me create - not one, but two - holiday cards!  Fabulous.  The portraits were taken by my good friend Jessica Giblin of Jessica Giblin Photography.

I'm wrapping up a few other holiday card orders and will have more pics to publish soon!

Stay warm ...

13 December 2008

SJD Messages > Schedule for 12/13-14

Hello, all!  I will be out of the studio this weekend painting a mural for my niece.  Photos to come ... :)  I will have access to email and my cell - will be checking messages a few times a day.  Returning non-urgent messages on Monday.  Have a happy weekend!

11 December 2008

SJD Messages > Schedule

Just wanted to post a quick note about my schedule.  My work days are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.  Most of you who know me - know that I usually answer my phone later in the evening - but I try to close up the studio around 5pm to share a meal with my family.  I prefer to book appointments on Mondays & Sundays - anytime day or evening.

I am off on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This is new.  I have finally realized that I am not a machine and need to rest my mind & body to be in tip-top creative shape.  I actually turn off my phone and check messages (both phone & email) once during those days.  It's a bit of a necessity to get that uninterrupted 1:1 time in with my family.  I return messages on the following work day.  

I'll also be posting messages/notes/updates to the blog under SJD Messages in the label section to the right >> so that you know the 411 24/7.  It's just the quickest and easiest way to get a note out to the masses.  Mostly quick notes like updates to my schedule, product availability, and the like.

Getting Mushy

Does everyone get mushy like me around the Holidays?  At the movies yesterday with my family, (we saw Bolt - super funny and a great pic for the whole family by the way) at the end of the movie I found myself blubbering like I don't even know what.  Earlier in the week, we rented Narnia: Prince Caspian (also a good family pic) and every time (I've tortured myself by watching it, and crying with it, three times!) the movie nears the end there's this song (I have to figure out what the name is) starts and the waterworks start.  My goodness - it's not even just movies a commercial can get me too!

Guess it's that I start thinking about everything all at once ... what am I making for dinner, ooo - have to grocery shop, finish up holiday shopping, get out the holiday cards, return phone calls, check email, finish that artwork, assemble those invites, did I send out all my estimates, did I figure out preschool for next week, am I getting enough sleep - no, I really want to see Twilight, am I heading in the right direction with my career, the weight of our country's economic woes, the fact that our Christmas will not be as grand as years past and more and more ... then (there's a glimmer of light) realize that I don't mind the previous list so much since really do have so much to be thankful for and just well up.  I really hope the tearing up goes away soon.  People may start to ask questions.  :)  Or maybe they're just thinking (ladies this is) that we really are all a lot more alike that we'd like to think.

I definitely am thankful - that is for sure.  To my past, present and future clients ... thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me to create the first glimpse into your most special events.  I am blessed to have worked with wonderful brides, businesses and families thought out my 6 year stretch as a business owner/graphic designer and really do love every crazy moment of it.  My growing business would not be possible with out ya'll!!

The pic above is from my annual holiday photo shoot with the two men in my life.  Oooo, they are so cute.  Without their love and support (along with the rest of my family), I wouldn't make it through a week.

I talk a a lot throughout my blog about my friends at The Memory Journalists and this year we were honored to have two photographers from the studio shoot our family pics.  We sorta felt like we were being stalked by the paparazzi for the afternoon - and loved it.  We do enjoy hamming it up for the camera.  :)  I have been blessed not only with great clients throughout the years, but have formed lasting friendships with colleagues through projects in the wedding & event industry.  Thank you to you all (ya'll know who you are!) for being a great source of inspiration and support!  

I know that all seems just a little disjointed - sort of rambling a little but I hope the message is clear - Thank you, everyone for everything you do to make my life a little sweeter.  Cheers!

01 December 2008

Press > Real Weddings Sacramento

The new issue of Real Weddings Sacramento (formerly Sierra Wedding Style) hit the newsstands last week and my designs were featured in the Style Files.  Yippee!!  

On the left hand side of the page; top row: all three "Laine & Joe" 5x5 Z-Fold invitations, Second row (issue with photo 3 and more on that below ...); third row (l to r): (photo 1) Tsakopoulos Library Galleria photo shoot hand glittered place cards and (photo 3) "Megan & Peter" 5x7 panel invitations; fourth row (l to r): (photo 1) Tsakopoulos Library Galleria photo shoot silk boxed invitation and (photo 2) "Amanda & Richard" 5x5 panel invitations.

Now for the annoying news ... the photograph in the magazine in the second row (photo 3) was a bit of a unwanted surprise.  The border (and a few other elements) in the program photo are original designs, by me.  But I didn't produce those programs.  Yeah.  Design thieved (above a photo of my original design).  Upon some investigation I figured out who lifted my original artwork (the iron-like border).  Not so nice.  My advice to anyone looking for custom design (1) pay for it and (2) if you're hiring a designer - make sure you are getting an original and not a ripped off imitation.

On a side note ... totally not the fault of the mag or photog simply a crazy coincidence that the pilfered artwork showed up next to some of my work.  Hello!  Karma at it's finest.

Holiday > Favorites

One of my favorite holiday designs last year was for the Hewitt Family.  Their invitation suite was a three holiday greeting - holiday card, new address announcement and housewarming party invite all wrapped up into one.  

Instead of traditional greens, reds and the like, we opted to used colors from their new ranch home - warm browns, antique golds, spicy curry yellow and fiery copper.  To bring in the holiday feel - I hand glittered - uh - nearly a thousand little snowflakes.  My house and studio were gilded to say the least.  :)  

The invitation suite was a 7x7 pocket fold, double matte family photo on the front panel, single matte holiday housewarming panel, gilded snowflakes, single matte photo of the girls, six layer invitation panel (yeoweee!), direction panel, accommodation panel, reply card, reply envelope and custom outside envelope.  It was a flurry of work here the week before Christmas last year getting these babies ready for delivery.

The Hewitt's have become dear friends of mine and I'm looking forward to more special greetings & invites!!  
Happy Holidays to all!!